Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,363, Yost Erdman, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Erdman, Yost Barbara
P 3,363
CONTENTS

State of Pennsylvania } ss. Montgomery County }
On this eighteenth day of May A. D. 1841 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of the said County, Barbara Ordman a resident of Franconia Township in the said County of Montgomery aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7th. 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows" - That she is the widow of Yost Ordman, who was a private in the war of the Revolution, and served in the company commanded by Captain George Bachman and Colonel Abraham Miller, and who first entered the service of the United States December first 1777 and left the same in the year 1781, that in each of the years 1777-8, 1779, 1780 and 1781 he served a term of two months as a draughted militia man in the Pennsylvania line, and who resided in the township of Upper Merion in the County of Lehigh formerly Northampton at the time he entered the service and performed the said service at the respective periods above in the neighborhoods of Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties in the State aforesaid during a portion of which time the British occupied the city of Philadelphia to wit in the year 1777-8. She further declares that she was married to the said Yost Ordman in the month of April in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven - that her husband the aforesaid Yost Ordman died in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four - that she was

not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz, at the time above stated. She also declares that she has no record proof of her marriage nor any documentary evidence in support of her claim.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written in open court. In testimony whereof I have here- unto affixed my hand and the seal of the said court
Barbara her Erdman mark
J. M. Evans. Prothon- of the court of - common pleas of Montgomery county Pa:

State of Pennsylvania } Montgomery County }
Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said county, Andrew Erdman resident of Upper Salford Township in said county of Montgomery, aged eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that he is a brother of Yost Erdman, deceased, and that at the time Yost Erdman entered the service of the United States, he and this deponent both resided at their fathers in Upper Saucon Township, in the county of Lehigh (formerly Northampton) in the State of Pennsylvania — that the said Yost Erdman served in the militia of Pennsylvania as a draughted Militia man in the Revolutionary War at four different periods of a term or tour of two months each, to wit, in the winter of 1777-8 and years 1779-1780-1781 respectively that owing to his great age and the length of time which has elapsed since the said periods above, he is unable to state at what particular times of the said years above the service of the said Yost Erdman was performed; but he well recollects that his brother Yost Erdman left home at his Father's aforesaid with a view of serving in the army in the years above mentioned and that he returned after an absence of two months or more at a time. He further deposes and says that Yost Erdman always left home with a view of serving in the neighborhood of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and that at the time he entered the said service and when he left it, he was a single or unmarried man, that in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven, the said Yost Erdman married a certain

Barbara Stallmaker in due form, and according to the laws of this Commonwealth, at the time of which this deponent was present and witnessed the said marriage ceremony to which the said Barbara and the said Gost Erdman were parties. This deponent further deposes and says that the said Gost Erdman died in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, leaving the said Barbara Erdman (formerly Stallmaker) his widow who is now living in the Franconia Township in the said County of Montgomery, and has never since married.
He further deposes and says that the said Barbara Erdman was not married to the said Gost Erdman prior to his leaving the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four.
Sworn to and subscribed this 28 th day of May A.D. 1840 before me Frederick K. Smith
James M. Forster
State of Pennsylvania } Montgomery County } ss I Frederick K. Smith a Justice of the peace in and for the said County do hereby certify that Andrew Erdman the above deponent is a person of credibility and in every way entitled to full belief on his oath.
Witness my hand this 28 th day of May A.D. 1840
Frederick K. Smith
State of Pennsylvania } ss Montgomery County }
I Josiah W. Evans Prothonotary of

State of Pennsylvania } Montgomery County }
Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said county, Andrew Erdman resident of Upper Salford Township in said county of Montgomery, aged eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and say that he is a brother of Yost Erdman, deceased, and that at the time Yost Erdman entered the service of the United States, he and this deponent both resided at their fathers in Upper Saucon Township, in the county of Lehigh (formerly Northampton) in the State of Pennsylvania — that the said Yost Erdman served in the militia of Pennsylvania as a draughted Militia man in the Revolutionary war at four different periods of a term or tour of two months each, to wit, in the winter of 1777-8 and years 1779-1780-1781 respectively that owing to his great age and the length of time which has elapsed since the said periods above, he is unable to state at what particular times of the said years above the service of the said Yost Erdman was performed: but he well recollects that his brother Yost Erdman left home at his Fathers aforesaid with a view of serving in the army in the years above mentioned and that he returned after an absence of two months or more at a time. He further deposes and says that Yost Erdman always left home with a view of serving in the neighborhood of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and that at the time he entered the said service and when he left it, he was a single or unmarried man, that in the year seventeen hundred and eighty seven, the said Yost Erdman married a certain

Barbara Stallmaker in due form, and according to the laws of this Commonwealth, at the time of which this deponent was present and witnessed the said marriage ceremony to which the said Barbara and the said Gost Erdman were parties. This deponent further deposes and says that the said Gost Erdman died in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, leaving the said Barbara Erdman (formerly Stallmaker) his widow who is now living in the Franconia Township in the said County of Montgomery, and has never since married.
He further deposes and says that the said Barbara Erdman was not married to the said Gost Erdman prior to his leaving the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four.
Sworn to and subscribed } Jan 1840 this 28 th day of May A.D. 1840 } before me Frederick K. Smith
State of Pennsylvania } Montgomery County } ss Frederick K. Smith a Justice of the peace in and for the said County do hereby certify that Andrew Erdman the above deponent is a person of credibility and in every way entitled to full belief on his oath.
Witness my hand this 28 th day of May A.D. 1840
Frederick K. Smith
State of Pennsylvania } ss Montgomery County }
J. Josiah W. Evans Prothonotary of

the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that Frederick K. Smith Esq. before whom the above deposition was made and thereby in the preceding certificate was given was, at the time of taking making and giving the same respectively, and still is, an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and empowered to administer oaths and take depositions and that the signature purporting to be his, is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of the said court this eighteenth day of May — A.D. 1841.
J. M. Evans. Prothon.
State of Pennsylvania } Lehigh County }
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Conrad Miller a resident of Upper Saucon Township in the said county of Lehigh aged eighty three years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose and say that he was acquainted with Yost Ordman from his infancy — that the said Yost Ordman served in the Militia of Pennsylvania, in the revolutionary war at one particular time a period of two months, as a draughted Militia man — that during the said period of two months the said Yost Ordman and this deponent were

in the same military company and served under Captain George Bachman and Col. Abraham Miller — that the said Yost Ordman first entered the service of the United States, December first, in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, and left the said service for that term , regularly discharged by the officers of the said company January the thirty first in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight.
This deponent further deposes and says that the said company met and were mustered into the service, as aforesaid, at the house of Andrew Ordman, father of the said Yost, in Upper Saucon Township in the said county of Lehigh — that after remaining there a day or two they were marched to Gerhard's tavern in Franconia Township in the county of Montgomery and State aforesaid — that the next day they were marched to Hitler's tavern in the said county of Montgomery at a place called North Wales — thence they were marched to Montgomery Square and lay there watching and waiting the movements of the enemy who was then in full possession of the city of Philadelphia — that they lay at Montgomery Square about two weeks — that the day before Christmas in the said month of December, the said company of which the said Yost Ordman and this deponent were members, were marched to Philadelphia, or within cannon ball distance, and arrived there after dark of the same day, having joined a body of soldiers about five thousand strong at

that Yost Erdman at the time he entered the service, as aforesaid, lived at his father's Andrew Erdman in Upper Saucon township aforesaid.
Sworn to and subscribed } Conrad Miller this Thirt day of September 1840 before
Johns Stetler } one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County
State of Pennsylvania } Lehigh County } ss.
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Lehigh Gotthard Mory, a resident of Upper Saucon township in said county, aged eighty eight years who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say - that in the year seventeen hundred and eighty, two horses of his were pressed into the service of the United States, then at war with Great Britain - that Yost Erdman drove his horses in the army, pressed as aforesaid, and acted, then in the service of the United States as a team driver - that owing to his advanced age and an impaired memory he, the said deponent, is not able

Flourtown in the said county of Montgomery— that after having fired several rounds of cannon upon the British occupying the city through the course of the night, they were marched back to Flourtown aforesaid.
Gen. Armstrong and another General which this deponent doth not recollect, commanded the Army at that time. From Flourtown the company to which this deponent and Yost Erdman belonged were marched to Smithfield in Philadelphia county, and they remained there until the expiration of their two month's tour, when they were regularly discharged as aforesaid.
This deponent further deposes and says that he has no personal knowledge of any further service rendered by the said Yost Erdman in the Revolutionary war, yet he has always understood from persons and soldiers belonging to the American army in the time of the Revolution that he served at three or four period since the period aforesaid in the army of the Revolution. He further deposes and says that the said Yost Erdman at the time of the said service in the Revolutionary war was a single or unmarried man, and continued so for about five or six years afterwards— that he married before the first day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four a certain Barbara Stallmaker and died in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, leaving the said Barbara his widow who as he get understands, living in the county of Montgomery and continues yet to be his widow, having never since married. He further states

to state how long his horses were pressed into the service or when they were returned to him, but he is certain that it was a considerable time and when they were returned, they were returned to him by the said Galt Ordnance under the directions of the proper officers of the Army.
Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of September 1840 Johens Stahler one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County
Scott Galt Woyg
State of Pennsylvania } Lehigh County } ss.
I Jesse Samuels, Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Lehigh in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that Johens Stahler Esq. before
whom the two preceding and above depositions were made and taken was at the time of taking the same and still is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and empowered to administer oaths and take depositions - and that the signatures purporting to be his, are genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal

of the said court this third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
Jesse Samuels. Proth.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
P. O. 3363
Service: Barbara Oruman wid. of Yost
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Barbara Erdmans of Yost Pennsylvania
Suspended
See let: 22 nd May 1841 Hon: J. Hobnance let: 17 June 1841 to do let: 22 March S. N. Rich.
3363
Acty July 1838

Washington June 16 - 1841
To James L'Edward Esq r Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
I received your favour of the 22 nd May, relative to the claim of Barbara Erdman for Pension. - As I had not time to examine the subject myself - I sent your letter to Mr Rich a gentleman, who I know to be a friend of Mrs Erdman and under whose superintendence her petition was prepared.
Yesterday I received the enclosed letter from him - From a hasty perusal it would appear that there is some misunderstanding as to what the petition does prove.
Will you permit me to ask a reexamination of her papers, together with the enclosed letter
With great respect
Yours J. Housance

Summitown march 15
Mar 21. 1842
Pa. Gardner
10/3 10/3 10/3
Hon. L. L. Coonrad Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Simsbury March 15
Mar 21. 1842
Pa. Goodwin
1842 1842 1842
Hon. L. L. Coonrad Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Hon. J. L. Barrows The reply to yours of the 10th inst. I would state that I have refer- enced to the claim of Barbara Bradman in my letter of the 6th inst. This claim was forwarded to the "department" in June last and filed among the suspended cases. I do think that by looking into that case closely, there will be sufficient evi- dence found to entitle her to the benefits of her country. At this distance period of time since the trying times of the revolution were enacted, it cannot be expected that such evidence can be produced as might have been 30 or 40 years ago. It is true that Barbara Bradman, one of her witnesses, testified in general terms to some terms of service being performed by her mother each and every in each of the years 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780 and 1781 as a drafted militia man and makes no allusion to her having been engaged as a wagoner with the army at any time. It is also true that Barbara Bradman's mother after her death in 1781, Barbara Bradman, her husband in the affidavit, does not specify as to any service of her mother and why the claim will be correct and the affidavit received for payment. Andrew Bradman, through his testimony in general terms to some terms of service, does not specify as to any terms that to his knowledge of her mother served in each of these years as a drafted militia man. It is true that he served some in 1777 as a wagoner, does that go to show that he served as such the whole year and could not have served two months as a drafted militia man during any part of the year? Certainly not.

One will perceive that Matthew Story, at the time of taking his deposition, was 88 years of age; a period of life when the memory of man fails him very much, and it is possible that Story himself, at the period of his life, might have recollected military ser- vices rendered by Capt. Erskine as a soldier. It is evident that the reason he recollects so well that Capt. Erskine acted as a quartermaster in our town in 1780 is that his own horses were pressed into the service, a matter which is well calculated to make a deep impression on the witness's mind. But why should this extract from the testimony of Andrew Erskine? He said he could not well see Story, and that a dark night both correct. Another witness testified positively to the time of the first year's service and stated that he was with him in the army. He further stated that though he has no personal knowledge of any further service rendered by Capt. Erskine yet he has always understood from persons and soldiers belonging to the American army in the vicinity of the Revolution that he served not only four periods since the period spoken of by him. But all this might certainly have great weight and give my friend to confirm the testimony of Andrew Erskine. I would just remark in way of conclusion that the Legislature of this state has granted a pension to the claimant of the precisely the same testimony that has been used to grant a pension which may be found in pamph. Series of 1840. Page 873. I am, Sir, respectfully J. H. Beck Kingston, Montgomery Co. Pa.

Barbara Erdman.
act July 7, 1838.
Search for further proof of service Susp. Rev. files Penna.
Paper L.M.
J. W. Magill, Atty.

Know all men by these presents, That I, Mary Hunsberger (late Aitman) of the county of Montgomery , and State of Pennsylvania , do hereby constitute and appoint THOMAS S. DONOHO & JOHN W. MAGILL , of Washington, D. C., jointly or severally my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my behalf to prosecute my claim for the pension which may have been due my mother, Barbara Erdman deceased, who made application under the act of July 7, 1834 (as per sup. roll) and to receive such certificate as may be issued, hereby revoking any power of attorney which may have been heretofore given, and confirming all things that my attorney, the said DONOHO & MAGILL , or either of them , may lawfully do in the premises.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April A. D. 1854. Witnesses present Hunsberger  Mary Hunsberger [L. S.] Aurora A. Hunsberger mark J. W. Wampole
Acknowledged before me the day and year last above written.
J. W. Wampole J. P.
STATE OF Pennsylvania
COUNTY OF Montgomery , ss:
I, Nathaniel Bacob, Prothonotary  Notary of the court of Common Pleas , within and for the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Isaac W. Wampole Esq. , before whom the foregoing acknowledgment was taken, was at the date thereof an acting justice of the peace, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court, this
19 th day of April , A. D. 1854.
Sara Evans for  Notary Prothonotary.